Persia-CYRUS

Question 1

When was Cyrus born?

Answer 1

580BCE

Question 2

When did Cyrus rule?

Answer 2

559-530 BCE

Question 3

Who was Cyrus’ mother?

Answer 3

Mandane

Question 4

Who was Astyages and what did he do?

Answer 4

Cyrus’ grandfather.
~The Magi predicted that Cyrus would become the greatest king
~He told Harpagus to kill Cyrus
~Harpagus couldn’t so he gave him to a shepherd
~Astyages found out and fed Harpagus his son as a consequence.

Question 5

What did Astyages dream about?

Answer 5

Mandane, his daughter, having a son who becomes king by force.

Question 6

What did Astyages do after this dream?

Answer 6

Exiled Mandane to Anshan (Persia) and married her to marry King Cambyses I.

Question 7

What was Astyages’ second dream?

Answer 7

That Cyrus would overthrow him and take over the Medes

Question 8

How did Astyages realise Cyrus was his grandson?

Answer 8

Cyrus possessed kingly qualities, meaning he couldn’t have just been a shepherds boy.

Question 9

What was Harpagus’ punishment for not killing Cyrus?

Answer 9

Astyages fed him his son. He only found out when his head, hands and feet were on a platter.

Question 10

How did Harpagus get revenge?

Answer 10

~Became general of the Median army ~persuaded soldiers to mutiny and defect to Cyrus.

Question 11

What did Cyrus do with Astyages?

Answer 11

~spared his life
~adopted Astyages as his grandfather to legitimise his succession

Question 12

Who was the king of Lydia during Cyrus’ conquest?

Answer 12

Croesus (he lived in Sardis)

Question 13

Why did Croesus attack first?

Answer 13

1) Fears of the expanding Persian Empire
2)Oracle at Delphi said a great empire would fall. He thought this meant Persia.
3)Revenge for his brother in law, Astyages
4)Lydian expansion

Question 14

Why was Croesus’ fear of Persia plausible?

Answer 14

Media borders Lydia, meaning that Lydia was a suitable target.

Question 15

When was Cyrus’ conquest of Lydia?

Answer 15

546BCE

Question 16

Where was the first battle in Cyrus’ conquest of Lydia?

Answer 16

Pteria

Question 17

Which people did Cyrus request help from during his conquest of Lydia?

Answer 17

The Ionians (They refused)

Question 18

Why did Croesus retreat after the Battle of Pteria?

Answer 18

~Suffered many losses
~almost winter
~fell back to the capital, Sardis, to get more troops

Question 19

Which people did Croesus intend on asking for help?

Answer 19

~Babylon (king Nabonidus)
~Egypt (king Amasis)
~Sparta (orcale suggested this)

Question 20

3 points

How did Cyrus win at the battle of Sardis?

second battle with Lydia after battle of Pteria

Answer 20

1) attacked during winter (unexpected as support hadn’t arrived yet)
2) Harpagus used camels in the front line to scare cavalry
3) Lydians were outnumbered

Question 21

Why didn’t Cyrus give the Ionians and Aeolians the same terms as Croesus did?

Answer 21

They refused to rebel against Croesus at the battle of Pteria so he was less lenient with them.

Question 22

pyre

How did Croesus become Cyrus’ advisor?

Answer 22

~Cyrus put him on a pyre
~Croesus calls out to Solon (Greek politician who warned him about Cyrus)
~Cyrus respects Solon so he tries to put out flames but can’t
~Croesus prays to Apollo and the flames are put out.

Question 23

What was Cyrus doing between 546 and 539 BCE?

Answer 23

campaigning in the east

Question 24

When was Cyrus’ conquest of Babylon?

Answer 24

539 BCE

Question 25

How did Cyrus enter Babylon according to Herodotus?

Answer 25

He diverted the river Euphrates and the soldiers waded into Babylon.

Question 26

Who was the main Babylonian God?

Answer 26

Marduk

Question 27

How did Cyrus claim legitimacy during his conquest of Babylon?

Answer 27

He said that he conquered the city by the will of Marduk

Question 28

How did Cyrus overthrow Nabonidus?

Answer 28

~Nabonidus worshiped moon goddess,Sin rather than Marduk ~Babylonains were angry for this reason ~Nabonidus fled when he realised that Cyrus' conquest was seen as peaceful

Question 29

Who did Cryus free from Babylon and what did they call him?

Answer 29

The Jews. They called him a 'messiah'

Question 30

What was the significance of pasagardae?

Answer 30

It was a microcosm of Cyrus' empire and a grand display of his wealth and power

Question 31

What were the features of Pasagardae?

Answer 31

~Paradaiza ~winged guardian of pasagardae ~Zenden ~Cyrus' tomb

Question 32

Who ruled over the Massagatae?

Answer 32

Queen Tomyris

Question 33

What happened between Cyrus and Tomyris?

Answer 33

~He offered a marriage proposal ~she rejected it and decided to invade Cyrus' empire ~Croesus suggested that Cyrus should invade her land before she attacks

Question 34

What offer did Tomyris make and what did Cyrus' advisors say?

Answer 34

~She let him decide what side of the river Araxes to fight on ~Harpgagus suggested they fight on her soil so if they lost it'd be harder for her to progress into the heart of Persia and conquer the rest of the empire

Question 35

Who was captured in the first battle against the Messagatae?

Answer 35

Spargapsies, Tomyris' son who killed himself in captivity.

Question 36

How does Herodotus say Cyrus died?

Answer 36

In battle. Other sources say he died of old age.

Question 37

What did Tomyris allegedly do to Cyrus' corpse?

Answer 37

Decapitated his head and put it in blood.